^u 


DOWEYS   PROVERBS. 


V 


&} 


PROVEEBS 


REV.  WILLIAM  SCOTT  (DOWNEY,  B.  D. 


"To  know  wisdom  and  instruction  ;  to  perceive  the  words  of 
understanding."  Proverbs  of  Solomon  1 :  2. 


BOSTON : 

J.  M.  IIEVVES,  PRINTER,  81  CORNF1ILL. 
1854. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1853, 

BY  WILLIAM  SCOTT  DOWNEY, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


TO 

REV.    PHINEAS    STOWE, 

THIS 
VOLUME     IS     INSCRIBED 

AS    A 

TOKEN   OF    THE   AUTHOR'S  PERSONAL    FRIENDSHIP, 

VAND  of  HIS 

HIGHEST   APPRECIATION   FOR   THE 
UNRESERVED    DEVOTION 

OP 
EXALTED     TALENTS     TO      THE     CAUSE 

OF 

Humanity    and    Religion. 


PREFACE. 


I  BRIEFLY  commend,  with  grateful  feelings, 
the  Sixth  Edition  of  my  little  offering  to  the 
good  will,  and  indulgent  criticism  of  men  of 
moral  excellence  ;  hoping  for  the  same  sub- 
stantial evidence  of  approbation  which  ran  out 
the  first  five  editions,  if  the  sentiments  in  its 
leaves  are  truthfully  applied. 


PROVERBS 


WILLIAM    SCOTT    DOWNEY, 


CHAPTER  I. 

1.  WOULD  men  but  look  more  mi- 
nutely into  the  glass  of  their  own  im- 
perfections, we  should  find  them  less 
censorious. 

2.  A  well-spent  Sabbath  on  earth 
prepares  us  for  the  spending  of  a  better 
one  in  heaven. 


10  DOTNE'rS    PROVERBS. 

3.  It  is  far  better  to  die  a  porter  in 
the  fear  of  the  Lord,  than  a  courtier  in 
the  fear  of  the  devil. 

4.  Forced  love  must  soon   become 
mortal  hatred. 

5.  As  large  trees  are  not  the  most 
productive,  neither  are  wealthy  men  the 
fnost  liberal. 

6.  To  be  rich,  in  most  cases,  is  to  be 
arrogant  and  selfish. 

7.  Strong  drinks  are  like  wars,  mak- 
ing cripples  of  some  men,  and  sending 
others  to  the  grave. 

8.  No  man  should  think  better  or 
worse  of  himself  merely  on  account  of 
his  birth  ;  but  rather  let  all  think  so- 
berly. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  11 

9.  Beauty,  like  riches,  has  been  pro- 
ductive of  more  evil  than  good. 

10.  The  tongue  of  the  slanderer  is 
a  deadly  poison ;   and  the  voice  of  the 
scold  gloomy. 

11.  Poor  is  the  man  who  can  boast 
of  nothing  more  than  gold  ;  and  equally 
so  must  the  woman  be  who  can  boast  of 
nothing  more  than  her  beauty. 

12.  The  contrast  which  exists  be- 
tween  the    abstemious   man    and    the 
drunkard  is  this — the   former   governs 
his  affairs,  but  the  affairs  of  the  latter 
govern  him. 


12  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  II. 

1.  Rather  be  pierced  by  a  dart  than 
by  the  tongue  of  a  wife. 

2.  The  seas  are  not  still  while  the 
winds  blow  ;  neither  can  a  man  be  spir- 
itually  alive   while   his   affections   are 
upon  the  earth. 

3.  He   who    would    guide    others X 
ought  first  to  guide  himself. 

4.  The  religion  of  the  tongue  is  as    | 
the  leaves  of  a  tree ;  while  that  of  the 
heart  is  its  fruits. 

5.  A  Christian  never  exposes  himself 
more  than  when  he  neglects  to  pray. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  13 

6.  The  use  of  strong  drinks,  to  most 
persons,  is  as  pills  of  arsenic  disguised 
in  a  honey  comb  ;   although  palatable  at 
first,  it  is  ruin  at  last. 

7.  Should  thy  birth  be  noble,  let 
good  deeds  show  it ;    should  thy  birth 
be  mean,  let  Christian  graces  beauti- 
fy it. 

8.  Men  possessing  small   souls  are 
generally  the  authors  of  great  evil. 

9.  To  die  happy  you  must  live  holy; 
receiving  injuries  without  complaining, 
and  readily  forgiving  them. 

10.  Better  that  ignorant  men  re- 
main silent,  than  babble  from  the  lack 
of  argument. 


14  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

11.  While  travelling  I  have  often 
noticed  bull-dogs  lying  still  while  pup- 
pies were  barking. 

12.  For  a  tutor  to  give  a  pupil  a 
longer  lesson  than  he   can  receive,  is 
much  like  a  farmer  giving  a  heavier 
load  to  an   ass   than  he   can  take   to 
market. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  15 


CHAPTER  III. 

1.  Truth,  although  harmless  as  the 
dove,  is  stronger  than  the  lion. 

2.  The  indolent  man   values  rest ; 
but  the  industrious  man  labor. 

3.  Religion  is   a  substance,   while 
pleasure  is  but  a  shadow. 

4.  Would  most  men  be  as  ready  to 
aid   the   needy   as   they   are   to  insult 
them,  many  would  be   a  blessing  and 
not  a  curse  to  those  around  them. 

5.  In  loving  a  godly  man  we  love 
both  God  and  man. 


16  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

6.  Most  men  are  preparing  how  to 
live,  but,  alas !    not  how  to  die.     Let 
such  bear  in  mind  that  all  who  are  pro- 
fligate of  their  means  in  summer,  must 
perish  in  winter — for  there  is  no  proba- 
tion in  eternity. 

7.  Would  women  be  as  silent  in  most 
things  as  they  are  in  telling  their  age, 
men  would  be  far  easier,  and  courts  of 
justice  less  troubled. 

8.  Never  be  too  precipitate  in  your 
decisions ;    but  previously  to  pronoun- 
cing them,  maturely  consider  both  sides 
of  the  question. 

9.  If  most  married  women  possessed 
as  much  prudence  as  they  do  vanity,  we 
should  find  many  husbands  far  happier. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  17 

10.  We  frequently  find  men  while 
attempting  to  ridicule  others  exhibiting 
their  own  ignorance. 

11.  Would  ungodly  men  think  more 
of  the  union  which  exists  between  God 
and  his  ministers,  we  should  find  them 
unwilling  to  offend  the  poorest  of  them. 

12.  Punctuality  strengthens   confi- 
dence and  secures  respect. 


18  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

1.  Man's  time  is  his  property  ;  it   ./ 
therefore  behooveth  him  to  improve  it. 

2.  Would  man  but  think  more  of  his 
probationary  stay  on   earth,   how  very 
insignificant  would  the  pleasures  of  this 
transitory  world  appear. 

3.  To  bring  forward  past  grievances 
is  folly ;    but  to  forgive,  and  strive  to 
forget  them,  is  wisdom. 

4.  An  uxurious  husband  makes    a 
scolding  wife  ;   and  an  over  fond  parent 
a  spoiled  child. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  19 

5.  Diligence,  frugality,  and  perse- 
verance, are  the  leading  steps  to  wealth. 

6.  Scolding  wives,  like  bad  clocks, 
are  seldom  in  order. 

7.  A   prudent   woman   studies    the 
comfort  of  her  husband  and  household  ; 
whereas  a  scold  and  spendthrift  thinks 
of  parties  and  fashions. 

8.  Marriage  is  the  comfort  of  the  con- 
siderate and  prudent ;   but  the  torment 
of  the  inconsiderate  and  self-willed. 

9.  Through  religion  we   may  pass 
to  joys   above  ;     but   through    worldly 
pleasures   we   shall   pass    to    torments 
below. 

10.  A  wise  man  is  he  who  keeps  his 
own  secrets  and  adheres  to  charity. 


20  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

11.  Religion  protects,  while  sin  ex- 
poses to  shame  and  contempt. 

12.  While  the  wish  of  many  individ- 
uals is  to  arrive  at  heaven,  we  daily  be- 
hold them  on  the  way  to  hell. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  21 


CHAPTER  V. 

1.  Family  worship  is  a  spiritual  wall, 
which,  if  attended  to,  will  keep   from 
the  Christian's  door  such  temptations  as 
he  must  be  otherwise  exposed  to. 

2.  Whatever  has  been  the  fault  of 
one  woman  may  be  the  fault  of  another. 

3.  Ignorance  and  impudence  are  in-  i/ 
separable  companions. 

4.  Riches  have  benefitted  tens,  and 
ruined  thousands. 

5.  In  religion  consists  the  happiness 
of  the  wise  ;  but  in  gold  that  of  fools. 


22  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

6.  It  is  wisdom  to  bear  with  evils 
which    we    cannot   remedy  ;    but   the 
greatest  folly  to  clamor  against  them. 

7.  Would  you  have  others  to  befriend 
you,  be  friendly  ;   would  you  have  them 
to  respect  you,  respect  yourself. 

8.  As  there  is  innocence  in  babes, 
and  imbecility  in  old  age,  even  so  there 
is   envy  in  poverty,   and  arrogance   in 
opulence. 

9.  To    receive    an   injury  is  to  be 
wounded  ;  but  to  forgive  and  to  forget 
it,  is  the  cure. 

10.  Law  without   justice    is    as    a 
wound  without  a  cure. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  23 

11.  Prosperity  gathers  smiles,  while  \  f 
adversity  scatters  them. 

12.  To  keep  your  own  secrets  is  wis- 
dom ;  but  to  expect  others  to  keep  them 
is  folly. 


24  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

1.  A  gay  body  often  accompanies  a 
weeping  soul. 

2.  Money  makes  the  gay  lady  ;  but 
virtue  the  noble  woman. 

3.  The  sword  was  never  intended  for 
murder,  but  defence  ;  neither  was  the 
tongue  intended  for  slander,  but  prayers 
and  praises. 

4.  To  countenance  fraud  is  to  succor 
crime  ;  but  to  punish  crime  is  to  expose 
the  devil. 

5.  The  hearer  of  God's  word  is  a 
tree  planted ;  but  the  doer  is  a  fruitful 
one. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  25 

6.  It  is  better  to  drink  the  water  of 
industry  from  an  earthen  cup,  than  the 
wine  of  indolence  from  a  silver  tankard. 

7.  Most   fashionable   ladies   are   as 
diamonds,  because  they  are  more  costly 
than  useful. 

8.  Never  be  angry  with  your  neigh- 
bor because   his   regttbus   views   differ 
from  your  own  ;  for  all  the  branches  of 
a  tree  do  not  lean  the  same  way. 

9.  Judge  nothing  by  the  appearance. 
The   more   beautiful  the    serpent,    the 
more  fatal  its  sting. 

10.  It  is  not  sinful  to  be  poor,  but      V 
to  be  dishonest ;  neither  is  it  sinful  to 

be  rich,  but  to  be  sordid. 


r 


26  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

11.  A  sacrifice  of  property  denotes 
philanthropy  ;   but  a  sacrifice  of  feeling 
denotes  love. 

12.  Never  respect  men  merely  for  y 
their  riches  ;  but  rather  for  their  philan- 
thropy ;   we  do  not  value  the  sun  for  its 
height,  but  for  its  use. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  27 


CHAPTER  VII. 

1.  Man  ploughs  the  ground  to  make 
it  prolific  ;  God  ploughs  the  heart  to 
make  us  Christians. 

*2.  The  difference  between  a  godly 
wife  and  a  worldly  one  is  this ;  the  for- 
mer is  a  real  gem  shining  in  the  dark 
evening  of  adversity  ;  but  the  latter  is 
a  mere  paste,  glittering  only  in  the 
morning  of  prosperity. 

3.  A  generous  and  a  liberal  man 
gives  what  he  can,  and  not  what  he 
will ;  a  covetous  man  gets  what  he  can 
and  hoards  it  at  his  will. 


*  The   above   was  written  in  compliment  to  my 
Yankee  wife.— W.  S.  D. 


28  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

4.  For  an  individual  to    speak   his 
mind  on  every  trivial  occasion,  is  much 
like  a  quack  who  would  give  mercury 
to  a  sick  man  for  every  complaint. 

5.  To  love  for  beauty  and  not  for 
virtue,  is  to  love  the  gem  on  account  of 
its  lustre  ;    but  to  love  for  virtue  and 
not  for  beauty,  is  to  love  the  ruby  for 
its  value. 

6.  When  one  errs  from   ignorance 
he  merits  pity  ;  but  when  he  errs  wil- 
fully let  us  be  sparing  in  our  reproaches, 
for  all  men  have  human  sensibilities. 

7.  Jesting  among  men  is  an  evil  of 
greater  magnitude   than   most   persons 
are  inclined  to  believe.     While  indul- 
ging in  it  we  are  given  to   lies  ;    but 
Christians   should    avoid  it.     How  can 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  29 

we  believe  the  parties  to-day,  who  de- 
ceived us  but  the  day  before  ? 

8.  Modesty  is  the  essence  of  purity, 
but  impudence   is   the   effluvia   of  de- 
pravity. 

9.  There  is  thunder  in  the  voice  of 
the  scold,  but  the  music  of  "  Apollo's 
lute  "  in  the  language  of  the  amiable 
spouse  ;    the  former  wounds,    but    the 
latter  heals. 

10.  As  there  is  innocence  in  infancy, 
mirth  in  feasting,  and  awful  solemnities 
in  death  ;   so  there  is  quietude  in  virtue, 
vanity  in  pleasure,  and  deceit  in  wealth. 


30  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

1.  To  awake  a  woman's  curiosity  is 
to  make  her  pliable. 

2.  Virtue  and  hospitality  are  spon- 
taneous growths,  which  are  often  to  be 
met  with  where  we  least  expect  them. 

3.  When  an   intimate  friend  turns 
from  us,  we  often  find  him  the  most  in- 
veterate enemy. 

4.  The  rich  man  travels  as  he  pleases  ; 
but  the  poor  man  travels  as  he  can. 

5.  To  pray  without  faith  is  to  make 
a  small  fire  while  it  is  raining  heavily. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  31 

6.  As  the  compass,    quadrant   and 
chart  are  the  mariner's  guide  while  on 
a  voyage,  even  so  should  the  Bible,  faith 
and   prayer,   be   the    Christain's    pilot 
while  on  his  voyage  through  time. 

7.  The  Christian's  trumpet  is  earnest 
and  fervent  prayer  ;  let  him  not  forget 
to  sound  it  while  the  enemy  is  near. 

8.  As  honey  is  sweet  to  the  taste, 
and  roses  pleasant  to  the  smell,  even  so 
does  religion  speed  us  to  heaven,  but 
pleasures  to  hell. 

9.  If   a  felon   trembles   before    an 
earthly  judge,  who  is  but  mere  man, 
how  will  the  impenitent  man  stand  be- 
fore the  heavenly  Judge,  who  is  both 
God  and  man  ? 


32  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

1.  As  there  are  charms  in  music,  and 
value  in  gold,  even  so  there  is  danger  in 
beauty,  and  delusion  in  pleasure. 

2.  It  is  easier  to  make  the  indigent 
wealthy,  and  the  arrogant  meek,  than 
to  make  a  rebel  loyal,  lawyers  preach 
what  they  practise,  or  parsons  practise 
all  they  preach. 

3.  A  flood  of  waters  can  but  destroy 
the  body  ;  a  deluge  of  sin  must  destroy 

both  soul  and  body. 

» 

4.  Wealth  may  conceal  a  man's  faults, 
strength  may  rid  him  of  his  foes  ;  but 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  3§ 

neither  the  one  nor  the  other  can  bribe 
the  monster  Death,  or  overcome  impar- 
tial Time. 

5.  The  match  which  lit  your  candle 
will  reduce  a  town  to  ashes.     The  small- 
est sin  will  endanger  both  the  soul  of 
the  preacher  and  hearer. 

6.  To  expect  to  reach  heaven  with- 
out living  holy,  is  to  expect  to  move 
the  Alps  by  the  strength   of  a  man's 
voice. 

7.  As  prejudice  is  deaf,  and  necessity 
lawless,  even  so  are  beauties  void,  and 
beggars  covetous. 

8.  Let  every  slanderer  consider  him- 
self no  other  than  the  child  of  the  devil, 


34  DOWNEY'S  PBOVERBS. 

who,   while   deceiving   Eve,    slandered 
God.     Gen.  3  :  4,  5. 

9.     Children  are  like  beggars  ;  often 
coining  without  being  called. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  35 


CHAPTER  X. 

1.  Doctrine  without  precept  is  as  a 
book  without  print. 

2.  As  the  careless  rider,  who  on  de- 
scending a  hill  endangers   his   life   by 
giving  slack  reins  to  his  horse,  even  so 
do  some   men  endanger  their  domestic 
happiness  by  giving  too  much  license  to 
their  thoughtless  young  wife. 

3.  The  beauty   of  a  man's  person 
may  attract  attention,  while  the  noble- 
ness of  his  soul  alone  will  preserve  ad- 
miration. 


36  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

4.  As  credulity  is  the  sister  of  inno- 
cence, even  so  is  concealment  the  en- 
emy to  tranquillity. 

5.  For  an  individual  to  say  he  loves 
God,  and  at  the  same  time  be  otherwise 
than  charitable  towards  his  fellow  man, 
is  much   like  one  who  would  have  us 
believe  him  a  true  son  of  the  Church  of 
Eome,  while  he  hates  the  Pope. 

6.  For  a  man  to  feed  his  body  at  the 
expense   of  his   soul,    is   the   greatest 
folly ;  nor  are  those  doing  less  who  de- 
sire the  applause  of  men  more  than  the 
grace  of  God. 

7.  The   warrior   who   unthinkingly 
wanders  from  his   camp  unarmed,  can 
make  but  feeble  resistance  when  over- 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  37 

taken  by  the  enemy  ;   even  so  must  be 
the  case  with  all  nominal  Christiana. 

8.  The  prescriptions  of  skilful  phy- 
sicians and  surgeons,  may  cure  the  in- 
veterate  diseases   of    a    man's   body  ; 
whereas   the   receipts   of   the   inspired 
writers  of  the  Bible  alone  can  heal  the 
soul. 

9.  Beautiful  peaches  are  not  always 
the  best  flavored  ;  neither  are  handsome 
women  the  most  amiable. 


38  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

1.  Those  who  cannot  keep  their  own 
secrets  ought  not  to  be  entrusted  with 
the  secrets  of  others.     How  can  we  ex- 
pect the  plant   of  a   tropical  climate, 
which  drooped  in  our  summer,  to  flourish 
in  winter  ? 

2.  The  prescriptions  of  quacks  can 
but  injure  the  body  of  man,  which  is 
already   dying  ;     but    the    doctrine    of 
atheists  must  injure  the  soul,  that  can 
never  die. 

3.  To  be  truly  pious  is  to  be  truly 
loyal. 


39 


4.  To  travel  across  the  Atlantic  we 
make  much  preparation ;  but  to  travel 
through  time,  we  make  little  or  no  pre- 
paration.    This  is  folly ! 

5.  The  difference   between   a   wise 
and  foolish  man  is  this — the  former  sees 
much,  thinks  much,  and  speaks  little  ; 
but   the   latter   speaks    more    than    he 
either  sees  or  thinks. 

6.  As  the  covetous  man  thirsts  after 
gold,    and   the   drunkard   after   strong 
drink,  so  should  the  Christian's  thirst 
be  for  religion. 

7.  Wealth  may  add  splendor  to  life  ; 
while  religion  alone  can  secure  substan- 
tial happiness. 


40  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

8.  The  mind  is  nothing  less  than  a 
garden  of  inestimable  value  which  man 
should  strive  to  cultivate. 

9.  Better  is  it  to  tell  a  man  of  his 
faults  than  to   speak   of  them   in  his 
absence. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  41 


CHAPTER  XII. 

1.  To  acquire  wealth   is   to  create 
friends  ;    but  to  gain  knowledge  is   to 
acquire  that  power  of  which  fame  will 
speak. 

2.  As  man  loves  the  vine  for  its  fruit ; 
so  let  him  love  his  Creator  for  the  gift 
He  has  bountifully  bestowed  upon  him. 

3.  As  there  is  craft  in  law,  even  so 
is  there  fallacy  in  politics,  and  envy  in 
indigence. 

4.  As  the  diamond  is  among  precious 
stones,    even  so   is   the   Bible    among 
books. 


42  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

5.  For  one  to  admire  a  woman  merely 
for  her  beauty,  is  to  love  the  building 
for  its  exterior  ;   but  to  love  one  for  the 
greatness  of  her  soul,  is  to  appreciate 
the  tenement  for  its  intrinsic  value. 

6.  To  seek  for  tetotallers  at  a  gin 
shop,  is  to  expect  donations  from  misers, 
to  hear  thieves  speaking  truths,  or  priests 
refusing  tithes. 

7.  Food  and  raiment  preserve   the 
body ;    but    prayer   and   fasting   must 
benefit  the  soul. 

8.  As  the  steamboat  goes  against 
wind  and  tide,  even  so  does  the  free- 
thinker argue  against  reason  and  reve- 
lation. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  43 

9.  Education  may  refine  the  man- 
ners ;  but  the  grace  of  God  alone  can 
refine  the  soul. 

10.  Sauce  maketh  palatable  the  dish 
of  the  epicure  ;   even  so  doth  religion 
sweeten  the  bitter  cup  of  adversity  to 
the  Christian. 


44  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


1.  Never  repine  at  your  lot ;  all  the 
heavenly  bodies  are  not  suns. 

2.  Light  and  darkness  cannot  exist 
together  ;   neither  can  good  works  issue 
from  a  depraved  heart. 


3.  The  best  sauce  for  a  dish  of  adver- 
sity is  Christian  resignation. 

4.  The  difference  between  religion 
and   pleasure   is   this — the   former  en- 
lightens and  elevates,  but  the  latter  in- 
toxicates and  cankers. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  45 

5.  It  is  not  the  mere  mastication  of 
the  food  which  satisfies  the  hungry  soul ; 
neither  is  it   the  mere  reading  of  the 
Bible  that  benefits  the  reader,  but  the 
digestion. 

6.  Of  your  neighbor's  faults  see  little, 
hear    little,  and    speak  less  than   you 
either  see,  or  hear. 

7.  While  the  reading  of  novels  and 
romances  confines  the  thoughts  of  men 
to   things   below,    the   perusal    of    the 
Bible  raises  them  to  things  above. 

8.  We  often  find  men  possessing  for- 
bidding appearances,  like  cloudy  morn- 
ings, which  end  in  bright  noons,    and 
balmy  evenings. 


46  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

9.  As  we  do  not  appreciate  the 
diamond  merely  for  its  lustre,  neither 
should  we  value  doctrine  without  ex- 
ample. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  47 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

1.  To  touch  a  man's  pocket  is  to  try 
his  philanthropy. 

2.  No  horse  is  so  sure  footed  but  he 
may  stumble  ;  neither  is  any  woman  so 
pious  but  she  may  fall. 

3.  It  is  good  for  a  man  to  repent  of 
his  sins  ;    but  better   for   him  had  he 
never  sinned. 

4.  The  vanity  of  woman,  like  ambi- 
tion in  man,  too  frequently  leads  her 
into    snares    from   which    she    seldom 


48  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

extricates  herself  without  sustaining 
much  loss  of  time,  and  embarrassment 
of  mind. 

5.  The  smiles  of  women  are  of  so  irre- 
sistible a  nature,  that  while  warriors  are 
subdued  by  them,  monks  and  abbots  are 
disrobed  of  their  sanctity. 

6.  Would  men  take  the  same  care  of 
their  souls  as  they  do  of  their  bodies, 
we  should  find  our  churches  as  thronged 
upon  the  Sabbath,  as  our  markets  are 
upon  a  Saturday. 

7.  The  difference  between  the  phi- 
lanthropist and  miser  is  this — the  for- 
mer lives  to  give,  but  the  latter  dies  to 
give. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  49 

8.  Most  women  act  as  if  they  were 
born  to  wound  and  not  to  heal. 

9.  While  bars  and  bolts  may  baffle 
the  thief,  virtue  alone  will  defeat  the 
slanderer. 


50  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

1.  As  drinks  have  their  dregs,   so 
does  life  have  its  sediment. 

2.  Power  will  accomplish  much  ;  but 
perseverance  more. 

3.  Reason  without  revelation  is  as  a 
ship  without  a  rudder. 

4.  The  lack  of  gold  can  but  impair 
a  man's  dying  body ;   but  the  lack  of 
wisdom  must  ruin  his  living  soul. 

5.  All  those  who   are   disposed   to 
serve  none   other   than   their   personal 
friends,  are  like  the  epicure  who  pro- 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  51 

vides  for  his  household  only  such  dishes 
as  suit  his  own  palate. 

6.  To  make  others  wealthy  you  must 
possess  gold ;  even  so  to  accomplish  a 
reformation  in  our  fellow  men,  we  our- 
selves must  first  be  reformed. 

*7.  Prayer  and  fasting  will  lead  the 
Christian  to  the  arms  of  Jesus ;  but 
sumptuous  dinners  to  the  arms  of 
Morpheus. 

8.  Acid  will  deprive  the  spurious 
metal  of  its  lustre  ;  so  will  adversity  rid 
the  spendthrift  of  her  sycophants. 


*  A  sleepy  Deacon  during  Sabbath  afternoon's  di- 
vine service,  gave  rise  to  my  writing  the  above. 

W.  S.  D. 


52  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

1.  As  a  good  tree  produces   good 
fruit ;     even   so    does   a   virtuous   soul 
produce  pure  thoughts. 

2.  No  man  is  so  learned  but  he  may 
be  taught ;  neither  is  any  one  so  illite- 
rate but  he  may  teach. 

3.  Of  what   shall   man  be  proud  ? 
Seeing  his  greatness  must  decline,  and 
his  beauty  fade. 

4.  Look  at  home  first ;   after,  you  may 
see    more    clearly    abroad.      All   who 
would  accomplish  a  reformation  in  others 
should  first  be  reformed  themselves. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  53 

5.  A  man  cannot  walk  among  thorns 
and  not   be  pierced  ;     neither   can   he 
lead  an  impious  life  and  die  happy. 

6.  It  is  easier  to  make  a  glass  tube 
pliable   than   to   convince  an  obstinate 
woman  she  is  in  fault. 

7.  It  is  not  the  mere  sight  of  the 
medicine  that  cures  the  sick ;  neither 
is  it  the  prayer  of  the  tongue  that  pre- 
pares us  for  heaven. 

9.  A  pimple  may  occasion  death  ; 
even  so  the  smallest  sin  may  lead  to 
eternal  misery. 

9.  Birds  of  fine  plumage  are  not 
the  best  songsters  ;  neither  are  comely 
women  the  most  virtuous. 


54  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

1.  To  be  poor,  in  most  cases,  is  to 
be  covetous  and  despondent. 

2.  Falsehood  is  a  polished  exterior  ; 
but  truth  is  a  gemmed  interior. 

3.  The  school-boy's  guide  should  be 
his  parents  and  teacher  ;   even  so  should 
every  man's  guide  be  the  Bible  and  his 
conscience. 

4.  As  the  painted  woman  receives 
her  beauty  from  embellishment,  even  so 
does  the  plagiarist  receive  his  popularity 
from  the  chemical  combinations  of  the 
genius  of  others.     The  one  is  the  Ignis 


DOWNEY'S  PKOVERBS.  55 

fatuus  which  but  deceives  ;  the  other 
the  rainbow  spanning  the  beauty  spread 
out  to  the  delighted  gaze. 

5.  Pleasure  rusts  the  soul,  but  reli- 
gion brightens  it. 

6.  No  man's  sight  is  so  strong  that 
he  can  read  in  the  dark ;   neither  can 
reason,  without  revelation,  guide  us  to 
heaven. 

7.  All  who  laugh  in  time  may  mourn 
in  eternity. 

Countries  are  not  without  their  coun- 
terfeit money ;  neither  are  societies 
without  their  counterfeit  feelings. 

8.  Pleasure  is  the  sun  of  the  morning, 
the  cloud  of  the  meridian,  and  the  storm 
of  the  evening. 


56  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS, 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

1.  To  speak  ill  of  an  individual  in 
his  absence  is  to  kick  at  a  dead  lion. 

2.  A  savage  cannot  understand  the 
properties,  nor  the  value  of  the  diamond; 
neither  can  a  vicious  man  appreciate  the 
graces  of  a  virtuous  wife. 

3.  No  day  is  so  bright  but  it  may 
have  its  clouds ;    neither  is  there   any 
country  so  tranquil  but  it  may  be  po- 
litically agitated. 

4.  Never  despise  small  things,  for  we 
were  all  infants  before  we  became  men, 
and  pupils  ere  we  became  teachers. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  57 

5.  As  fear  accompanies  guilt,  even 
so  does  beauty  ensnare  genius. 

6.  The  fruit  of  small  trees  is  easily 
stolen  ;    so  the  charms   of  the  comely 
poor  are  easily  ravished. 

7.  The  ungodly  rich  man  in  the  hour 
of  affliction  is  like  the  proud  oak  of  the 
forest  in  a  storm ;   but  the  pious  poor 
man,  the  reed  in  the  bog. 

8.  As  a  storm  conceals  the  glories  of 
the  sun  and  defaces  the  beauty  of  the 
landscape,  even  so  do  maddening  pas- 
sions  deform  the   soul,  bearing   along 
with  their  impetuous  waves  both  pesti- 
lence and  death. 


58  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

1.  The  difference  between  a  puppy 
and  a  fool  is  this — the  one  is  born  blind 
and  continues   so   for   nine  days  only, 
while  the  other  remains  with  his  eyes 
shut  all  his  life. 

2.  As  the  farmer  ploughs  the  ground 
and  sows  the  seed,  so  does  the  minister 
of  the  gospel  pray  and  preach  ;  the  for- 
mer needs  the  natural  showers  of  the 
season,  the  latter  the  living  showers  of 
the  Spirit  of  God. 

3.  The  difference  between  the  godly 
and  the  ungodly  man  is  this — the  one 
like  the  bee  sucks  in  the  sweets  of  re- 


59 


ligion  ;   the  other  like  the  spider  drinks 
in  the  poison  of  pleasure. 

4.  Woman's  eyes  have  pierced  more 
hearts  than  ever  did  the  bullets  of  war. 

5.  As  a  fish  out  of  his  native  element, 
so  is  the  fool  in  the  society  of  the  wise. 

6.  Man's  fall  in  Adam  is  the  chry- 
salis of  the  insect ;   but  his  resurrection 
in  Christ  is  the  beauteous  creature  soar- 
ing aloft,  his  wings  bathed  in  the  glo- 
rious light  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness. 

7.  The  difference  between  the  hum- 
ble minister  of  Jesus  and  the  fashion- 
able popular  preacher  is  this — the  for- 
mer studies  the  pasturage  for  his  flock  ; 
the  latter    the   transferability   of  their 
wool. 


60  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

*1.  As  the  ruby  when  set  with  the 
diamond,  even  so  is  a  peer  who  pos- 
sesses Christian  graces. 

2.  The  grace  of  a  Sovereign  makes 
the  peer ;  but  the  grace  of  God  alone 
makes  the  true  nobleman. 

3.  He  who  under  the  guise  of  friend- 
ship  appropriates   the   services  of  the 
poor  to  advance  his  own  immediate  in- 
terest, is  no  better   than   the  vampire 
bat. 


*  The  above  was  written  in  compliment  to  Lord 
Clarendon,  late  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland. 

W.  S.  D. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  61 

4.  As  an  intoxicating  drink  is  to  a 
toper,  so  is  flattery  to  a  fool. 

5.  Great  buildings  are  not  always  the 
best  furnished ;   neither  are  large  men 
the  most  intelligent. 

6.  Bright  days  do  not  always  consti- 
tute warm  ones  ;  neither  do  many  smiles 
make  the  true  friend. 

7.  When  the  lion  becomes  infirm, 
asses  kick  at  him  with  impunity. 

8.  There  is  surer  footing  on  the  ice 
than  by  the  side  of  a  comely  profligate. 

9.  To  neglect  a  wife's  pleasure  is  to 
create  a  storm  ;  but  to  grant  her  request 
is  to  remain  tranquil. 

10.  As  purified  silver  is  to  the  silver- 
smith, so  is  a  pious  wife  to  her  husband. 


I 


62  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

1.  An  eastern  basBaw  once  complain- 
ed that  lie  had  no  shoes,  but  when  he 
saw  a   man  without  legs  he  was  con- 
tent. 

2.  The  shade  of  faith  and  the  cloak 
of  true  godliness  is  the  best  equipage 
for  the  storm  of  adversity,  and  the  keen 
atmosphere  of  selfishness. 

3.  As  chancery  is  the  most  durable 
suit  in  law,  even  so  is  religion  the  most 
lasting  suit  for  man's  voyage  through 
time. 

4.  We  do  not  appreciate  the   dia- 
mond merely  for  its  brilliancy  but  for 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  63 

its  properties  ;  neither  do  we  behold  the 
beauty  of  God  merely  in  his  work  of 
creation,  but  more  so  in  the  stupendous 
one  of  redemption. 

5.  Storm  and  tempest  purify  the  at- 
mosphere ;   penury  and  disappointment 
purify  the  moral  atmosphere  of  the  soul. 

6.  Rum  intoxicates  the  toper  ;   love 
the  amorous  ;   and  prosperity  the  fool. 


64  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

1.  When  a  man  loses  his  money,  he 
loses   that   which    labor    can    restore  ; 
when  he   estranges   a   friend,  he   may 
gain   others ;    but   when   he   loses   his 
spirit,  he  is  lost  indeed. 

2.  Although  we  must  sometimes  re- 
ceive silver  and  copper  in  exchange  for 
our  gold,  we   are   not  bound  to  keep 
them  together. 

3.  The  difference  between  the  godly 
and  the  ungodly  is  this — the  one  launches 
his  bark  in  a  place  of  broad  rivers  and 
streams,  where  the  sure  mercies  of  God 
strengthens  his  mast  and  fulls  his  sail ; 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  65 

but  the  other  plunges  into  the  turbid 
waters  of  pleasure  and  dissipation. 

4.  To  hoard  gold  is  the  warranty  to 
wealth ;     but    the    only    insurance    to 
Heaven  is  true  godliness. 

5.  Were  most  men  as  liberal  as  they 
are  curious,   their   progress   to   heaven 
would  be  more  rapid. 

6.  Religion  is  a  sovereign  balm  to 
the  penitent ;  but  burning  coals  to  the 
scoffer. 

7.  The  Grammar  school  prepares  us 
for  College  ;    so  do  our   frequent  reli- 
gious meetings  on  earth,  fit  us  for  the 
great  perpetual  meeting  in  Heaven. 

8.  As  a  crowded  stomach  retards  di- 
gestion, so  does  prosperity  retard  charity. 


66  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

9.  As  a  stove  without  a  fire  to  the 
poor,  so  is  the  language  of  the  selfish 
rich  man  to  the  indigent. 

10.  As  the  furnace  purifies  the  sil- 
ver, so  does  charity  rid  wealth  of  its 
dross. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  67 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

1.  The  obedience  of  a  wife  to  her 
husband,  is  loyalty  to  a  sovereign,  and 
submission  to  God. 

2.  With  the  eye  of  the  body  we  be- 
hold things  present  and  changing ;  but 
with  the  eye  of  the  soul  we  see  glories 
unchanging. 

3.  Water  quenches  the  thirst  of  our 
bodies  ;   but  the  grace  of  God  alone  can 
satisfy  the  soul. 

4.  As   the   earth,    when   manured, 
proves  prolific,  so  should  every  hearer 
of  God's  word  prove  fruitful. 


68  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

5.  A  punctual  man  is  a  seasonable 
shower. 

6.  As  a  prime  seed  sown  in  rich,  soil, 
so  is  a  good  deed   done   to  a  grateful 
soul. 

7.  He  who  preaches  the  Gospel  per- 
forms a  noble  work  ;   but  he  who  prac- 
tices that  which  he  inculcates,  accom- 
plishes a  much  nobler  one. 

8.  As  the  snow  before  the  sun,  even 
so  is  a  polished   lie   before   the  naked 
truth. 

9.  Prosperity  graces  the  sunshine  of 
the  summer  ;  but  true  godliness  beauti- 
fies the  gloom  of  the  winter. 

10.  The    difference    between    the 
preaching   and   the    practising   of    the 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  69 

Gospel  is  this — the  former  scatters  the 
seed,  the  latter  gathers  and  distributes 
the  harvest. 

11.  The  harsh  language  of  an  angry 
man  is  the  mere  scum  of  his  soul. 

12.  Those  who  use  hard  words  to 
their  wives  during  life,  and  speak  soft 
ones  of  them  after  their  death,  are  much 
like   the   spoiled  child    and   his  drum. 
He   knocked   in   both   sides   and  wept 
afterwards. 


70  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XXIV, 

1.  The  miser  covets  gold,  the  soldier 
valor,  but  the  Christian  true  godliness  ; 
the  first  deceives,  the  second  intoxicates 
and  declines,   the  third  cherishes   and 
elevates  unto  eternal  glory. 

2.  When  the  noble  soul   bends  to 
benevolence,  it  adds  lustre  to  brilliancy; 
so  does  the  selfish  soul  add  to  its  own 
gloom,  by  turning  aside  to  sordid  prin- 
ciples. 

3.  God  forgives  sins  on  contrition — 
man  on  confession.     The  Creator  looks 
to  the  root  of  the  vine — the  creature  to 
its  fair  leaves  and  branches. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  71 

4.  Steam  gives  action  to  the  engine; 
even  so  does  the  love  of  Jesus  give  life 
to  the  soul. 

5.  Humility  is  a  slow  tide,  which, 
springing  from  God,  will  bear  us  on  to 
heaven.      Pride   is    a    boisterous    sea, 
springing  from  the  Devil,  and  hurrying 
us  on  to  endless  perdition. 

6.  As  the  tree  cannot  exist  without 
its  sap,  neither  can  the  soul  be  spirit- 
ually alive  without  the  grace  of  God. 

7.  Hypocrisy  is   that  hole  through 
which  our  vicious  habits  peep  out. 

8.  As  a  cancer  is  to  man's  body,  so 
is  party  zeal  to  his  soul. 

9.  Flattery  is  refined  deception — it 
is  the  froth  of  language — it  is  the  alco- 


72  DOWNEY'S  PBOVBRBS. 

hoi  of  social  intercourse — it  is  the  pre- 
scription of  the  subtle — and  the  nectar 
of  fools. 

10.  He  who  stoops  a  little,   saves 
trouble  ;    but  he  who  stoops  low,  expo- 
ses himself. 

11.  He  who  shuts  his  eyes  to  some 
things,    saves  his  sight ;    but  he   who 
winks  at  all  things,  is  a  fool. 

12.  As  a  grim  skull  lies  covered  be- 
neath the  fairest  face  ;   so  does  an  abyss 
of  torment  lie  beneath  the  surface  of  the 
glittering  sea   of  sensual  pleasure  and 
dissipation. 

13.  As  an  empty  house  with  a  pol- 
ished exterior,  even  so  is  a  comely  man 
void  of  understanding. 


THE 


WEALTHY  FARMER  AND  HIS  SONS. 


A  certain  wealthy  farmer  had  two 
sons.  The  first-born  was  a  self-conceited 
youth,  but  the  youngest  a  nieek,  obedi- 
ent child. 

The  old  man  feeling  a  desire  to  pro- 
vide for  them,  requested  that  they  both 
should  accompany  him  to  his  study  ; 
when  he  addressed  them  in  the  following 
words : — My  dear  children,  you  are 
perhaps  sensible  that  the  many  years  of 
my  life  have  taught  me  human  wisdom, 


74    THE  WEALTHY  FARMER  AND  HIS  SONS. 

and  the  blessing  of  God  has  abundantly 
crowned  my  labors. 

The  growing  infirmities  of  age  make 
me  anxious  to  see  you  both  settled  in 
life,  that  you  may  become  worthy  mem- 
bers of  society,  and  ever  prove  your- 
selves deserving  of  my  love. 

I  now  place  at  your  own  disposal  one 
hundred  thousand  pounds  ;  suggesting, 
for  your  benefit,  that  you  consult  me  in 
all  your  important  transactions.  Never 
sell  what  you  would  be  unwilling  to  pur- 
chase, and  do  not  purchase  things  by 
their  appearance. 

Both  listened  to  their  father  with  at- 
tention, and  after  receiving  their  portion, 
took  their  leave  ;  but,  alas,  with  different 
dispositions  ! 

The  oldest  son  was  determined  to  do 


THE  WEALTHY  FARMER  AND  HIS  SONS.     75 

as  he  pleased,  and  never  seek  the  coun- 
sels of  the  old  man ;  while  the  young- 
est was  conscious  that  without  his  fa- 
ther's advice  he  could  neither  improve 
his  time  nor  his  money. 

The  brothers  took  different  roads,  and 
entered  into  different  branches  of  busi- 
ness. The  first-born  never  returned  to 
see  his  kind  father,  nor  to  seek  his 
counsel,  but  was  at  all  times  to  be  found 
in  the  company  of  the  thoughtless,  the 
spendthrift,  and  the  debauchee.  Thus 
he  wasted  his  time,  and  squandered  his 
money,  and  was  at  length  reduced  to 
penury.  He  became  a  curse  to  all 
around  him,  and  died  in  wretchedness. 

The  youngest  son,  who  was  frequent 
in  his  visits  to  his  father,  to  seek  his 
counsel,  became  wise  and  wealthy,  so 


76  APPLICATION. 

that  he  was  a  comfort  to  the  old  man, 
and  a  blessing  to  society.  He  died 
happy. 

APPLICATION. 

We  are  to  understand  from  the  par- 
able, that  God  is  the  wise  and  wealthy 
father,  and  mankind  are  his  children. 

He  has  wisely  suited  duties  to  privi- 
leges. His  invitations  are  to  all.  We 
all  have  talents  given  us  to  improve. 
We  are  all  to  seek  him  in  prayer  as  we 
need  his  counsel.  Without  his  advice 
we  must  err  ;  without  being  frequently 
at  his  house  we  are  in  danger  of  being 
lost. 

Let  all  those  who  would  neglect 
churches  for  taverns  and  theatres,  bear 
in  mind  that  the  longer  they  turn  from 


APPLICATION.  77 

God,  the  harder  He  will  be  to  turn  to 
them. 

To  seek  God  often  is  the  highest  wis- 
dom ;  but  to  forsake  Him  is  the  greatest 
folly,  the  worst  ingratitude. 

Finally,  let  us  all  bear  in  mind,  that 
when  we  sin  against  God  from  ignorance 
He  pities,  and  will,  on  contrition,  par- 
don us.  But  when  we  transgress  his 
laws  wilfully,  we  shall  be  beaten  with 
many  stripes,  and  that  notwithstanding 
"  many  are  called  but  few  are  chosen." 


78     THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS. 


THE 


GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS. 


A  certain  Christian  King,  whose 
highest  ambition  was  to  do  good,  and 
who  had  long  benefited  his  subjects  by 
his  mild  but  firm,  government,  and  his 
equitable  decisions,  wishing  openly  to 
display  to  the  nations  around  him  his 
wisdom  and  beneficence,  called  his  cab- 
inet together,  and  addressed  them  as 
follows : — 

My  subjects  !  It  is  my  wish  to  with- 
draw from  the  country  for  a  season, 
and  I  have  convened  you  to  instruct 
you  in  relation  to  the  administration  of 


THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS.      79 

my  affairs  during  my  absence,  that 
there  be  no  sufficient  excuse  for  finding 
a  deranged  state  of  things  upon  my 
return. 

First.  Carry  on  your  operations  in. 
the  same  way  that  I  do  while  I  am  with 
you,  for  I  shall  hold  each  one  of  you 
strictly  accountable  for  his  actions  upon 
my  return. 

Second.  I  insist  upon  your  regular 
correspondence  with  me.  The  Treasury 
I  place  entirely  in  your  hands,  and  give 
you  full  power  to  make  such  appropria- 
tions as  you  shall  deem  best  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  interest  of  the  king- 
dom, and  the  happiness  of  my  people. 
I  would  suggest  that  you  freely  exer- 
cise towards  them  that  mercy  which 
has  ever  been  extended  to  you. 


80     THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS. 

The  hour  of  my  return  is  uncertain  ; 
but  iny  laws  must  be  faithfully  admin- 
istered, and  all  my  plans  strictly  carried 
out  according  to  the  views  I  have  laid 
before  you. 

Upon  my  return  I  shall  institute  a 
strict  inquiry  as  to  the  manner  in  which 
the  government  has  been  administered 
during  my  absence. 

Then  shall  I  reward  the  faithful,  and 
punish  those  who  have  been  otherwise. 

He  then  dismissed  the  Cabinet,  and 
privately  withdrew  from  the  country. 

They  had  only  to  become  assured  of 
his  departure  to  throw  off  all  restraint, 
and,  most  of  them,  act  according  to  the 
dictates  of  their  own  selfish  interests. 
They  bought  and  sold.  They  builded 
up  and  threw  down.  They  neglected 


THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS.     81 

to  correspond  with  their  master.  They 
expended  the  gold  of  his  treasury  only 
for  their  own  emolument,  or  that  of 
their  personal  friends. 

While  things  went  on  in  this  way,  a 
smaller  number  endeavored  with  single- 
ness of  purpose  to  accomplish  their  good 
king's  will. 

The  king  suddenly,  and  unexpectedly 
returned. 

He  summoned  his  servants  before  him, 
and  commenced  an  investigation  of  the 
manner  in  which  his  affairs  had  been 
controlled.  But  sad  was  the  state  of 
things. 

The  ministers  of  his  Cabinet  and 
his  courtiers  thus  approached  him  : — 
"  While  you,  my  Lord,  were  absent,  see 
the  ^od  we  have  done.  We  have  en- 

6 


82     THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS. 

acted  laws  from  which  taxes  have  been 
collected  from  our  poor  laboring  breth- 
ren. We  have  built  navies,  and  with 
the  arms  of  our  country  subdued  many 
neighboring  nations.  We  have  torn 
down  the  old  houses  of  your  kingdom, 
and  built  costly  ones  in  their  stead. 
And,  finally,  seeing  the  prosperous  state 
of  things  resulting  from  our  wise  coun- 
cils, we  considered  it  superfluous  to 
trouble  you  with  our  correspondence 
concerning  it." 

Next  came  the  Bishops,  Deans,  and 
Vicars  to  account  to  the  good  old  king 
of  their  administration.  These  began  : 
— "  See,  your  majesty,  how  worthy  we 
are.  We  have  fleeced  from  our  flocks 
as  much  as  it  was  in  our  power  to  do. 
We  have  torn  down  the  old  chtrches 


THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS.   83 

and  erected  magnificent  cathedrals  upon 
their  sites  ;  for  which  our  richer  breth- 
ren have  rewarded  us  by  raising  our 
salaries.  We  have  been  very  strict  in 
the  government  of  our  churches,  preach- 
ing twice  upon  each  month.  We  have 
not  wasted  our  substance  ;  for  from 
keeping  all  we  got,  we  have  amassed 
an  easy  competence.  We  have  always 
inculcated  the  sound  doctrine  of  the 
Bible,  and  have  taught  the  poor  to  give 
cheerfully  to  each  other.  We  have  vis- 
ited the  sick  and  the  poor,  and  given 
them  our  counsel  and  our  prayers  ;  but 
we  have  withheld  the  gold,  deeming 
our  counsel  better  fitted  to  teach  them 
the  self-denial  of  the  gospel,  than  to 
place  them  in  the  way  of  temptation, 
wherf  they  may  be  in  danger  of  dressing 


84     THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS. 

too  richly,  or  living  too  luxuriously. 
All  this  good  we  have  accomplished." 

The  last  but  smaller  number  of  the 
king's  subjects  then  approached.  They 
were  plainly  clothed,  and  were  the  poor 
of  the  kingdom.  They  could  not  boast 
of  having  erected  palaces  or  cathedrals. 
They  had  never  considered  themselves 
wise  ;  and  feeling  their  lack  of  wisdom, 
they  had  sought  counsel  by  constant 
correspondence  with  their  master  while 
he  was  abroad. 

All  they  placed  before  him  was  their 
effort  to  obedience,  and  faith  in  his 
wisdom  and  beneficence. 

Their  language  was: — "Most  gra- 
cious Sovereign,  wre  have  nothing  of 
which  to  boast ;  and  because  we  have 
simply  followed  your  counsel,  wcrcom- 


THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS.      85 

mend  ourselves  to  your  mercy  for  the 
many  imperfections  you  will  find  in  the 
discharge  of  the  duties  which  have  de- 
volved upon  us." 

The  good  monarch,  after  a  brief  si- 
lence, thus  addressed  the  assembly  : — 

My  subjects  !  I  have  patiently  listen- 
ed to  your  communications,  while  I 
have  myself  seen  more  than  you  are 
conscious  of.  You,  my  counsellors  and 
courtiers,  have  acted  from  motives  of 
worldly  policy,  and  according  to  your 
own  will  and  pleasure.  The  laws  which 
you  have  passed  can  never  receive  my 
sanction.  Your  wars  were  unnecessary, 
your  palaces  were  built  at  the  expense 
of  the  nation.  You  have  exacted  what 
I  never  required.  Away  with  you ! 
You,  Bishops,  Deans,  and  Vicars,  your 


86     THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS. 

works  cannot  receive  any  plaudits  from 
me.  They  brought  you  high  wages  and 
popularity  among  men.  Your  superb 
cathedrals  stand  proudly  in  the  sight  of 
man,  but  sordid  and  low  are  the  souls 
who  officiate  at  their  altars.  Your 
prayers  and  advices  you  freely  gave  to 
the  poor  because  they  cost  you  nothing; 
and  while  you  have  scrupulously  attend- 
ed to  all  the  outward  proprieties  of  life, 
your  hearts  are  the  seat  of  every  unsanc- 
tified  passion.  You  must  away.  You 
have  not  one  qualification  to  fit  you  for 
my  kingdom. 

Turning  to  the  minority,  he  con- 
tinued :  You,  my  loyal  and  obedient 
subjects,  have  fulfilled  my  requirements 
in  doing  to  others  as  you  would  have 
them  do  to  you.  Your  correspondence 


THE  GREAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS.      87 

I  have  often  received,  and  your  actions 
I  have  approved  ;  your  qualifications 
entitle  you  to  be  members  of  my  house- 
hold. Come,  come  with  me — the  in- 
heritance is  yours ! 


To  THE  CHRISTIAN  READER  : — 

Every  individual  has  had  some  remarkable 
era  in  his  history,  which  has  forcibly  impress- 
ed upon  his  mind  the  claims  of  truth  and  vir- 
tue, and  drawn  him  to  the  paths  of  wisdom  by 
exhibiting  its  reward. 

Be  this  my  apology  for  the  introduction  of 
the  following  dreams. 

W.  S.  D. 


DOWNEY'S  FIRST  DREAM. 


ON  the  night  of  the  20th  of  January, 
1835,  while  I  was  residing  at  Kingston, 
Jamaica,  W.  L,  I  returned  home  to  my 
uncle's  residence,  from  the  theatre, 
where  I  had  been  to  see  the  play  of  Eu- 
gene Aram.  About  three  quarters  past 
twelve  I  retired  to  rest ;  and  was 
scarcely  asleep,  when  I  thought  I 
saw  the  houses  in  the  city  disappear- 
ing, and  the  sea  and  rivers  dried  up. 
At  the  same  moment  the  Blue  Moun- 
tains became  levelled  to  a  plain.  A 
great  number  of  men,  women  and 


92  DOWNEY'S  FIRST  DREAM. 

children,  of  every  age  and  appearance, 
were  rushing  on  towards  the  East.  Anx- 
ious to  learn  what  had  happened,  I 
asked  a  friend  who  was  running  with 
the  crowd,  what  was  the  meaning  of  all 
this.  He  replied,  Do  you  not  know ! 
this  is  the  day  of  judgment.  I  cried 
out  to  him,  what  shall  I  do  ?  His  an- 
swer was,  I  cannot  tell  you,  I  must  go 
on.  So  away  he  hurried,  and  I  follow- 
ed. I  soon  beheld  a  light  brighter  than 
the  noon-day  sun  shining  around  me  ; 
and  there  were  gathered  before  me  an 
innumerable  assembly.  I  saw  the  clouds 
towards  the  East  part,  rolling  back  like 
two  great  folding  doors,  and  a  majestic 
being  appeared.  He  was  attended  by 
a  host  of  holy  angels.  So  great  was 
the  effulgence  of  divine  glory  that  I 


DOWNEY'S  FIKST  DREAM.  93 

was  forced  to  close  my  eyes,  while  I 
trembled  from  head  to  foot.  With  all 
the  sublimity  of  divine  majesty,  he  took 
his  seat  upon  a  throne  of  pure  gold. 
The  immense  assembly  fell  prostrate  to 
the  ground.  When  they  were  raised 
from  their  prostration,  I  beheld,  towards 
the  right  hand  of  the  Great  One,  a  most 
beautiful  walk,  adorned  on  both  sides 
with  flowers  of  every  species.  Graceful 
fountains  of  marble  and  silver  spouted 
forth  their  columns  of  clear  water  ;  while 
the  dazzling  brightness  of  the  glory  of 
the  Judge  could  not  be  looked  steadily 
upon  with  the  naked  eye. 

The  grand  walk  led  to  the  clouds,  and 
all  who  passed  on  to  the  right  of  the 
throne,  disappeared  in  the  clouds. 

To  the  left  I  beheld  a  fearful  abyss 


94  DOWNEY'S  FIRST  DREAM. 

from  which  I  heard  great  thunderings  ; 
and  there  issued  therefrom  thick  black 
columns  of  smoke,  so  that  all  was  dark 
and  frightful.  I  saw  that  those  who 
moved  onward  to  the  left  dropped  into 
the  abyss,  and  were  seen  no  more.  All 
this  lasted  for  a  day  as  long  as  seven 
days ;  and  when  all  had  disappeared, 
I,  alone,  stood  before  the  Judge,  pale 
and  trembling.  I  made  bold  to  ap- 
proach his  seat,  and  cry,  Lord,  what  am 
I  to  do  ?  With  sweet  and  gracious 
looks,  he  pointed  to  the  abyss,  and  in 
tones  of  melting  tenderness,  replied,  I 
do  not  wish  to  send  you  there,  and,  point- 
ing to  the  pathway,  he  said,  You  are  not 
fit  to  ascend  to  this  place  ;  but  go  back 
and  teach  until  I  am  ready  for  you,  and 
you  are  prepared  to  meet  me. 


DOWNEY'S  FIRST  DREAM.  95 

I  noticed  the  Judge  had  marked  all 
those  who  had  ascended  the  walk.  I 
asked  him  if  he  would  not  mark  me  also. 
He  replied.  You  are  not  worthy  of  it. 
So  saying,  he  motioned  me  away,  and 
disappeared. 

I  then  awoke,  and  felt  as  wretched  as 
man  may  feel,  until  I  was  led  to  decide 
to  live  and  die  in  the  service  of  the  kind 
and  gracious  Judge.  W.  S.  D. 


96  VISION    SECOND. 


VISION  SECOND. 


New  Orleans,  La.,  U.  S.  A. 

August  1,  1851. 

I  had  retired  to  bed  at  half  past  ten, 
P.  M.,  and  falling  asleep,  I  dreamed  I 
was  in  a  sequestered  spot.  Tired  and 
hungry  with  the  travels  of  the  day,  I 
had  seated  myself  upon  a  little  hillock. 
Looking  about,  I  beheld  one  flying  from 
the  clouds  towards  the  place  where  I 
sat.  As  he  approached  me,  he  threw 
aside  his  veil,  and  displayed  a  figure  of 
unequalled  beauty. 

Addressing  me— Child  of  sorrow,  he 
said,  I  am  sent  both  to  instruct  and  sue- 


VISION   SECOND.  97 

cor  you.  He  then  bade  me  take  hold 
of  his  robe,  which  I  did,  when  he  bore 
me  with  him  to  the  summit  of  a  lofty 
mountain.  Alighted  here,  I  saw,  at  its 
base,  a  large  field,  and  in  its  centre  an 
orchard,  crowded  with  trees  of  every 
sort.  It  was  surrounded  by  a  high  wall, 
at  different"  points  of  which  were  four 
gates. 

My  guide  bade  me  notice  what  I  saw, 
and  asked,  Are  you  not  hungry  ?  I  re- 
plied, yes.  He  questioned,  What  do 
you  notice  in  yonder  orchard  ?  I  an- 
swered, I  see  numerous  trees  crowded 
with  leaves,  but  no  fruit. 

He  bade  me  follow  him.  We  de- 
scended to  the  orchard,  and  closely  ex- 
amined the  trees,  but  could  discover  no 
fruit.  Will  not  the  beauty  of  the  or- 

7 


98  VISION   SECOND. 

chard,  the  limbs  of  the  trees,  or  their 
numerous  leaves  satisfy  your  hunger  ? 
said  he.  No,  I  replied.  He  then  took 
from  his  bosom  a  wand,  and  pointing  it 
to  the  trees,  lie  pronounced,  Be  fruitful ! 
Instantly  every  tree  was  loaded  with  the 
richest  fruits.  At  his  request  I  freely 
plucked  and  ate.  My  hunger  was  ap- 
peased. 

He  then  addressed  me  as  follows  : — 
Open  your  ears,  -hear,  and  be  wise. 
This  field  is  the  world.  The  orchard  is 
the  one  true  church,  and  Christ  is  its 
body.  The  different  trees  which  you 
see,  are  the  different  denominations  of 
Christians.  The  branches  and  leaves, 
which  could  not  satisfy  your  hunger, 
are  the  prayers  of  nominal  Christians, 
which  avail  little  in  the  sight  of  God. 


VISION   SECOND.  99 

The  fruits,  which  have  since  refreshed 
you,  and  made  you  glad,  are  the  works 
of  good  men,  which  are  ever  well  pleas- 
ing in  the  sight  of  GOD. 

Go  upon  your  way,  said  he,  and  be 
for  the  future  more  watchful  over  your 
own  heart,  than  you  are  to  notice  the 
conduct  of  others.  He  then  flew  away 
and  left  me,  and  I  awoke. 


100  VISION   THIRD. 


VISION  THIRD. 


St.  Sidwells,  Exeter,  England, 

August  10,  1852. 

I  had  retired  to  rest  at  12,  P.  M., 
and  was  scarcely  asleep,  when  I  thought 
I  beheld  a  light  in  the  heavens  much 
brighter  than  the  noon.  While  I  looked, 
the  skies  opened,  and  a  heavenly  mes- 
senger appeared  before  me.  His  hair 
was  like  threads  of  gold.  His  counte- 
nance more  comely  than  any  maiden  I 
have  ever  looked  upon.  His  raiment 
was  much  whiter  than  wool.  In  his 
right  hand  he  bore  an  artificial  branch 
of  the  rose  tree,  upon  which  bloomed 
one  flower,  composed  of  the  most  pre- 


VISION   THIRD.  101 

cious  and  brilliant  stones.  Over  his  left 
arm  fell  a  scarf  richly  wrought  with 
threads  of  gold,  and  thickly  studded 
with  gems  :  from  it  was  suspended  a 
large  golden  cross. 

He  made  me  to  understand  that  the 
artificial  branch  was  an  emblem  of 
"  Forget  me  not."  That  the  scarf  and 
the  golden  cross  were  the  property  of  the 
Pope  of  Rome.  He  then  held  up  both 
hands  to  heaven  and  cried  aloud,  "  The 
Church  of  Rome  shall  no  longer  be  for- 
gotten before  God."  When  he  had 
uttered  this  three  times,  the  clouds 
opened  and  received  him  from  my  view. 

These  dreams,  I  solemnly  declare, 
came  to  me  as  I  have  related  them. 

WM.  SCOTT  DOWNEY. 


OPINIONS   OF  THE  BOSTON  PRESS. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  Wisdom  in  minia- 
ture. Rev.  William  Scott  Downey,  B.  D.,  has 
published  a  fifth  edition  of  his  Book  of  Pro- 
verbs, which  he  inscribes  to  Rev.  Phineas 
Stowe.  The  book  is  full  of  brief,  pithy,  sen- 
sible and  striking  paragraphs,  each  detached 
from  the  other,  but  all  forming  a  chain  of  wis- 
dom and  truth. 

Mr.  Downey  has  upon  his  subscription  list 
the  names  of  some  of  the  most  eminent  divines, 
merchants  and  scholars  of  this  city,  and  the 
work  is  printed  and  covered  in  a  style  worthy 
of  the  contents. — Daily  Courier ',  1853. 


OPINIONS    OF   THE   BOSTON   PRESS.      103 

PROVERBS.  By  Rev.  William  Scott  Dow- 
ney, B.  D.  We  are  indebted  to  the  author  for 
a  copy  of  this  most  excellent  work.  A  fifth 
edition  has  just  been  issued,  and  is,  we  are 
pleased  to  learn,  meeting  with  a  rapid  sale. 
Its  contents  are  full  of  instructive  merit.  Many 
of  the  proverbs  contain  the  true  gems  of 
thought,  conveyed  in  the  most  sententious  and 
pointed  language.  It  is  a  book  that  possesses 
the  elements  of  a  permanent  interest,  and 
should  be  on  every  table.  Its  author  is  a 
most  worthy  man.  He  is  now  in  our  city  and 
will  be  happy  to  dispose  of  his  book.  It  is 
worthy  to  mention  that  the  "  Proverbs  "  have 
passed  through  five  large  editions  in  this  coun- 
try. Among  the  list  of  subscribers  are  some 
of  our  first  citizens. — Daily  Bee,  July  9, 1853. 

DOWNEY'S  BOOK  OF  PROVERBS  has  been 
handsomely  published  in  a  little  volume.  It  is 
a  good-hearted  and  well-intended  volume,  and 


104   OPINIONS  OF  THE  BOSTON  PRESS. 

contains  some  proverbs  of  more  than  common 
excellence.  Rev.  Mr.  Downey  resides  in  this 
city,  and  is  an  entirely  inoffensive  gentleman, 
desirous  of  doing  some  good  in  his  day,  and 
turning  his  work  to  some  account.  The  vol- 
ume will  look  handsomely  on  the  centre  table, 
and  may  be  taken  up  at  any  time  with  advan- 
tage.— Bunker  Hill  Aurora  and  Boston  Mir- 
ror, July  23d,  1853. 

DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  Rev.  William  Scott 
Downey,  who,  we  believe,  has  become  a  resi- 
dent of  this  city,  has  just  issued  here,  from  the 
press  of  J.  M.  Hewes,  a  handsome  little  vol- 
ume— the  fifth  edition — chiefly  confined  to 
short,  pithy  and  sensible  proverbs,  but  con- 
taining also  two  or  three  more  lengthy  essays 
or  tales  of  a  good  moral  and  religious  tendency, 
and  an  account  of  three  veritable  dreams  of 
the  author.  As  Mr.  Downey's  object  seems 
to  be  uto  do  good  and  communicate,"  and  as 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  BOSTON  PRESS.   105 

this  pretty  volume  will  promote  that  end,  we 
cannot  but  hope  that  it  will  have  an  extensive 
circulation.  His  proverbs  are  all  good  and  in- 
structive, and  some  of  them  are  worthy  of  an 
enduring  place  in  the  memory. — Daily  Even- 
ing Traveller,  July  25th,  1853. 


BOOK  OF  PROVERBS.  The  fifth  edition  of  a 
very  useful  and  neatly  executed  little  work, 
entitled  "  Proverbs,  by  William  Scott  Downey, 
B.  D.,"  has  just  been  published  in  Boston  by 
the  author,  from  whom  we  have  received  an 
elegant  bound  copy.  .  Besides  the  proverbs,  it 
contains  sundry  allegories  and  dreams,  which 
make  it  unique  as  well  as  instructive.  In  the 
list  of  subscribers  appended  to  it,  we  observe 
the  names  of  Governor  Clifford,  Hon.  Abbott 
Lawrence,  Hon.  E.  C.  Winthrop,  Mayor  Sea- 
ver,  Rev.  Dr.  Eastburn,  Rev.  Dr.  Vinton, 
Rev.  Dr.  Walker,  of  Cambridge,  and  many 


106   OPINIONS  OF  THE  BOSTON  PRESS. 

other  distinguished  citizens.  Mr.  Downey 
was  formerly  a  missionary  in  the  British 
West  India  Islands,  and  seems  to  possess  a 
truly  catholic  spirit,  and  to  be  animated  by 
a  philanthropic  feeling. — Liberator,  July  29th, 
1853. 

DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  A  Book  of  Pro- 
verbs, by  Rev.  William  Scott  Downey,  has 
been  sent  us  by  the  author.  It  is  published 
in  good  style,  and  contains  most  excellent 
sentiments,  conveyed  in  a  very  terse  and 
striking  manner.  The  author's  list  of  sub- 
scription contains  the  names  of  nearly  the 
whole  body  of  Protestant  clergymen  in  this 
city  and  its  vicinity. — Daily  Evening  Tran- 
script, August  8th,  1858. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  author,  Rev. 
William  Scott  Downey,  D.  D.,  for  a  copy  of 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  BOSTON  PRESS.   107 

a  neat  little  volume  of  Proverbs,  chiefly  of  a 
moral  and  religious  nature.  It  is  from  the 
press  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Hewes.  The  book  is 
beautifully  printed,  and  its  contents  bespeak 
the  author  to  be  a  profound  thinker  of  gen- 
erous and  kindly  sentiments,  and  alive  to  the 
frailties  and  wants  of  his  fellow-men.  As 
his  errand  among  us  is  one  of  religious  love, 
Christian  benevolence  and  pious  zeal,  we  wish 
him  all  success  in  his  undertakings,  and  an 
extended  sale  to  his  excellent  little  compen- 
dium of  wisdom. — Daily  Atlas,  Aug.  1,  1853. 


We  are  indebted  to  the  author  for  a  copy 
of  a  neat  little  volume,  entitled  "  Proverbs : 
by  Rev.  William  Scott  Downey,  B.  D."  It 
contains  many  excellent  maxims  which  it 
would  be  well  if  the  world  would  follow,  and 
abounds  with  that  charity  and  good  nature 
which  marks  the  bearing  of  the  author.  He 


108      OPINIONS    OF   THE   BOSTON   PRESS. 

has  just  received  from  Queen  Victoria's  chief 
secretary  the  following  note,  written  in  a  neat 
hand  and  in  good  taste  : — 

Osborne,  Aug.  22,  1853. 
REV.  SIR — I  have  received  the  commands  of  her 
Majesty  the  Queen  to  inform  you  of  the  receipt  of 
the  hook  which  accompanied  your  letter  of  the  2d 
inst.,  and  which  has  heen  very  graciously  accepted 
hy  her  majesty. 

I  am  further  commanded  to  assure  you  of  her 
majesty's  high  appreciation  of  the  loyal  sentiments 
expressed  in  your  letter. 

I  have  the  honor  to  he,  reverend  sir^ 
Your  ohedient  and  humhle  servant, 

C.  B.  PHIPPS. 
The  Rev.  W.  S.  DOWNEY. 

[Post,  Sept.  7th,  1853. 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  ALBANY  PRESS. 


PROVERBS,  BY  REV.  WILLIAM  SCOTT  DOW- 
NEY, B.  D.  This  is  a  pleasant  and  instructive 
little  work,  deserving  a  place  on  every  body's 
table.  It  is  full  of  terse  sayings  and  senti- 
ments, all  tending  to  the  promotion  of  a  high 
Christian  morality.  It  is  published  in  excel- 
lent style,  and  contains  a  great  deal  of  good, 
without  any  mixture  of  evil.  Its  tone  is  that 
of  kindness,  and,  what  is  not  common  in  such 
productions,  tolerant. 

"  Never  be  angry  with  your  neighbor  be- 
cause his  religious  views  differ  from  your 
own ;  for  all  the  branches  of  a  tree  do  not 


110  OPINIONS  OF  THE  ALBANY  PRESS. 

lean  the  same  way,"  is  one  of  the  proverbs, 
and  contains  the  spirit  of  the  whole  book. — 
Albany  Daily  State  Register,  Feb.  28,  1854. 

PROVERBS,  BY  REV.  WILLIAM  SCOTT  DOW- 
NEY. We  are  under  many  obligations  to  the 
author  for  a  beautiful  copy  of  this  pleasant 
little  volume.  Its  proverbs  are  full  of  wisdom, 
and,  in  their  themes  and  construction,  valua- 
ble and  interesting.  We  commend  him  and 
his  work  to  the  attention  of  the  thoughtful. — 
Albany  Journal,  Feb.  10th,  1854. 


tJUL 

p 


pf* 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN   DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


29JaD>57BC 

f                      *            kM. 

....  >   (  ,^421  nil     IL 

•  |~4I|UN  A  •  •      «*  ••   •.- 

REC'D  LD 

• 

PPrrFFVED 

JAN  1  5  1357 

tin      *^^*7    f  DM 

6JUN'60JO 

UN     -^  t)/  -5  «  M 

CTD  n  o  innn 

FEB  U  2  1999 

TV--'  •-    -   ' 

-     r\      Ar^f*f\ 

^H/\Y  231960 

LM^dl 

^ 

REC'D  LD 

MAY161961 

LD  21-100m-6,'56 
(B9311slO)476 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


